You may have heard that you can have three quarts of hot air-popped popcorn for the same number of calories as half a cup of cashews. Those who make this comparison assume you'll gasp and go for the popcorn, because who would want half a cup of something when you could have three quarts?

Things that are really good don't need to be gigantic. That's why espresso is served in a "shot" rather than a "Big Gulp" and truffles are bite-sized instead of supersized. Unfortunately, most of us have lost sight of this and think bigger is always better.

But that's not necessarily true, as we demonstrate issue after issue with great- tasting recipes made from high-quality ingredients. Take a look at our Spaghetti with Parmesan and Bacon. It's made from real bacon, garlic, eggs, and Parmesan cheese -- ingredients that make this a rich, satisfying dish. Sure, our serving size of one-and-a-quarter cups is less than what's dished out at the Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, but it's plenty when accompanied by a green salad, a vegetable, and bread to round out the meal. So "downsizing" your portions is not difficult if you approach your food in this way.

Here are a few strategies to help you go for quality over quantity

Pay attention to your food, and savor every bite. Eat sitting down, but not in your car or while watching Survivor reruns. It's a lot easier to mindlessly wolf down a large order of fries when you're not paying attention to your food.

Converse over your meal, and have fun. This, in turn, will slow you down, which is good, since it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you've eaten enough.

Cook more. Get to know what real food tastes like -- cooking from scratch doesn't have to be difficult. You'll find that spending time in the kitchen gives you a greater appreciation of what you're eating. Plus, your house will smell wonderful.

Every meal can't be a fine dining experience, but if you think more about what and how you're eating, you'll be more likely to eat less and enjoy it more.